40% of Britons Not Happy at Work

LEICESTER, England, February 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- As Many as 40% of Britons Are Not Happy at Work, According to New Research.

A poll of more than 1,000 working people by NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) found that 60% of UK workers were happy at work, with 10% describing themselves as "extremely happy" when doing their job.

However, as many 84% of those questioned said they were happy away from work, with 20% feeling "extremely happy" when not working. The figures suggest that British employers could do more to lift the mood of the workforce.

"Although the majority of people in Britain are happy at work, 40% aren't," said NEBOSH Chief Executive Teresa Budworth. "Happy workers tend to be more productive, so it's a good idea for employers to take steps to ensure people feel good about work."

The NEBOSH poll suggests that happiness at work is not linked to job type or pay level. 61% of higher managerial and professional workers are happy at work, as are 61% of semi and unskilled manual workers.

One area employers could target to improve happiness is people's general health. The NEBOSH poll found that almost a quarter (22%) of UK workers are unhappy with their health and well-being.

According to official figures, almost half a million workers in Britain suffer from work-related stress. Overall, around 30 million working days are lost each year in the UK through ill health (1).

Despite this, the NEBOSH poll showed that only 1 in five (21%) people have ever been given information, guidance or training at work on ways to avoid stress, while just 13% have been offered advice on exercise or healthy diet by their employer.

(1) HSE statistics 2009/10.

Notes

> Poll conducted by ICM among 1,153 working people between 6th and 9th of January 2011.

> Results can be provided by region, age and gender. Accompanying report Happiness, Health and Well-being at Work also available. See contact information below.

> NEBOSH is an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. It offers a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors.

    
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